Plaiting-machine.



No. 777,948. PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904. N, DE WITTA.

PLAITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, 1904-. N0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1..

I l 1% A5 Witnesses PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904,

N. DE WITTA. PLAITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5, 1904.

2 S'HEETS-SHEET 2.

NO MODEL T W -nventor- Wiknesses Patented December 20, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

NORMAN DE WVITTA, OF WATERTOWN, NEW YORK.

PLAlTlNG-MAOHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 777,943, dated December20, 1904.

Application filed April 8, 1904.. Serial No. 202,239.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NORMAN DE WVITTA, a citizen of the United Sta tes,residing at'Watertown, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York,have invented a new and useful Plaiting-Machine, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in plaiting-machines, and has forits principle object to provide a novel form of machine foraccordion-plaiting of skirts and other fabrics in general.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plaiting-machine inwhich the plaits will be of uniform character as. regards the foldingand creasing in opposite directions and in which the strain exerted onthe cloth will be precisely the same on both sides of the fabric.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine in whichthe depth of the plaits may be varied to any extent and the character ofplaiting altered in accordance with the work, so that a piece of fabricmay be plaited to form a skirt, the depth of the plait being graduallyincreased from the Waistline toward the hem.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine in whichthe cloth is protected from contact with the folding devices in order toavoid danger of injury to delicate fabrics, strips of paper or similarmaterial being disposed on opposite sides of the fabric for directcontact with the folding-blades.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a plaiting-machinein which provision is made for holding the plaited article in foldedposition in such manner as to permit its convenient Withdrawal from themachine, while the folds are retained during the subsequent steaming andpressing operations.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafterappear, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangementof parts hereinafter described, illustratedin the accompanying drawings,and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor detailsof the structure may be made without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is alongitudinal sectionalelevation of a plaitingmachine constructed in accordance with theinvention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan viewof the machine. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of one side of the machine.Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a portion of the foldingmechanism, drawn to a somewhat enlarged scale. Figs. 6 and 7 are viewsin the nature of diagrams, showing the folding operation. Fig. 8 is aview corresponding to Fig. 5, illustrating the novel construction of themechanism for holding the fabric in its folded condition.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The various operating parts of the machine are supported on a suitableframe 1, having standards so arranged as to place the foldingknives at aconvenientd istance above the floor.

In this frame are bearings for the support of the shafts 2 and 3, whichare connected by intermeshing spur-gears 4, and the lower shaft 2 isprovided with an operating-crank 5 when the machine is to be operated byhand. EX- tending transversely across the machine are two sets of rigidbars 6 and 7, that are spaced from each other by means of mainlongitudinal bars 8 of the frame. The forward set of bars 6 serve tosupport a pair of springs 9, and to the rear bars 7 are securedelongated springs 10, the two sets of springs serving as carriers forthe folding devices.

The fabric as it is fed is forced between a pair of spaced bars 11 and12, to each of which is secured a number of parallel bars 13, that areguided by the frame, and these bars 13 move with the transverse bars 11and 12 as the latter are alternately moved to and fro during theplaiting operation. The sets of bars 13 form, in effect, a chamber intowhich the folded fabric is gradually fed, and a portion of the walls ofthis chamber is formed by a plurality of bars 14, arranged in upper andlower series and spaced at intervals with respect to the bar 13. Thefront ends of the bars 1 are connected loosely to the transverse bars 6and are adjustable thereon in a direction transversely of the machine inorder to accommodate fabrics of different width. The bars 14: aremovable from the machine independent of the bars 13, so that when apiece of fabric has been completely plaited it may be removed, togetherwith the bars 14, and subjected to any further necessary treatment,while the fresh bars may be placed in position and the machine operatedwithout loss of time. 7

At the front of the machine is a bed or table 16, and at suitable pointson the frame are brackets for the reception of rollers 17 and 18, whichmay be removed from the machine for rewinding, the roller 17 receiving afabric to be folded together with a strip of paper or other protectingmaterial, while the roller 18 receives a strip of material for theprotection of the opposite sides of the fabric. All of the strips ofmaterial may be wound on a single roller, or a separate roller may beemployed for each of the strips, or the protecting-strips may be omittedwithout departing from the invention.

To the opposite ends of the springs 9 are secured transverseblade-carrying bars 20 and 21, and to these bars are secured blades 22and 23, respectively, the blades being held in position by bolts 24,that extend through suitable slots in order to permit adjustment of theblades with respect to their carrying-bars. The two carriers 20 and 21are provided at opposite ends with projecting lugs 25, having openingsfor the passage of stop-screws 26, that are adapted to engage withplates 27, secured to the frame of the machine, and by properlyadjusting the movement of the carriers and blades toward each other thevertical direction may be altered to any desired extent in order toalter the depth of the plaits, and this may be advantageously used inthe plaiting of skirts where the depth of plait at one edge of thefabric is greater than at the opposite edge.

The carriers are secured to the forward arms 30 of the springs 10, andthese springs are acted upon by pins 31, projecting radially from theshafts 2 and 3, the pins projecting in opposite directions from therespective shafts, so that they will operate alternately on the pins,and said pins are provided with threaded portions adapted to openings inthe shaft and having heads at their outer ends constructed forengagement by a suitable tool, so that the extent of projection may bevaried in accordance with the movement to be imparted to the blades andtheir carriers.

To the transverse bars 11 and 12 are secured lugs 32 and 33,respectively, these being engaged at times by arms 34:, carried by thesprings 10, and when so engaged the bars are moved outward or in thedirection of the carrying-rollers 17 and 18 and are afterward returnedto initial position by the stress of the springs.

Between the sets of bars 13 and 14: is placed a transverse bar 35, towhich are connected the ends of cords 36, which are led aroundguiding-pulleys 37 near the front of the machine and thence back fromwinding-shaft 38, mounted transversely in the frame and provided at oneend with a disk 38, against which presses an adjusting-screw 39,offering greater or less resistance to the turning movement of the disk,and thus increasing the force necessary to move the bar 35. A simplerform of resistance may be employed in the form of a weight or weights40, attached to the ends of the cords or chain 36.

In the operation of the device the bar 35 is introduced between the twotransverse bars 11 and 12 and the fabric is started in between the bars.For convenience the uppermost blade-carrier 20 is provided near each endwith a turn-button 4L1 of the character shown in Fig. 1. Thisturn-button is in the form of a flat bar pivoted at its upper end to thebar 20 and its lower end being provided with a V- shape notch. Thebutton is disposed near the end of the blade-carrier, and when saidblade is elevated the buttons may be turned outward by hand until theyassume the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. i, so that the lowerend of each button will rest on the top of one of the stop-plates 27.This will hold the blade-carrier elevated against the stress of thesprings 9 and 10, and the blade will be locked in its raised positionwhile the cloth is being introduced. This being accomplished, themachine is started, and, with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 5,the pins or cams 31 of the upper shaft 3 are moving the blade 22 forwardand upward, while the lower blade 23 is holding the previously-foldedplait in position, the upper edge of the blade pressing the fabricagainst the under surface of the transverse bar 11 and the lattersliding thereover, but the friction being insuflicient to draw thefabric away from the blade 23. At the completion of the forward movementof the blade 22 the cam or pin 31 in traveling over the inclined portion30 of the spring 10 will permit the blade to descend against the uppersurface of the fabric or against the sheet of paper used as aprotecting-strip and effect the downward fold of the fabric in thedirection opposite to that previously accomplished by the lower blade23. The spring 10 then carries the whole gradually to the rear, pressingthe cloth tightly against the outer face of the blade 23. Immediatelyfollowing this the pin or cam 31 of the lower shaft will have becomeactive and the blade 23 will be moved outward and downward, while theblade 22 remains in position to hold the folded fabric. The blade 23operates in a manner similar to the blade 22, but engaging the lowersurface ofthe nately-operable folders for engagement refabric orprotecting-sheet will form a fold in the opposite direction. After theplaiting operation has been accomplished a second bar is introducedbetween the two bars 11 and 12 and pressed with any desired force in thedirection of the bar 35, so as to firmly confine the fabric in position,after which the several bars 14: and the two bars between them may beremoved and serve in the meantime as carriers for the fabric and holdthe same properly folded in readiness for the subsequent steaming andpressing operations.

It will be observed that inasmuch as the blades engage the oppositefaces of the cloth very tightly the stretch of the fabric is limited andthe folding or plaiting will be more uniform and perfect than where onlyone face of the fabric is engaged, and where very delicate fabrics arebeing operated upon the protecting-strips of paper or similar materialmay be used,or the paper strips may be used in connection with anyfabric and fold with it in order to preserve the plaiting and protectthe fabric from exposure.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a plaitingmachine, folding blades movable respectively in opposite directions andcoacting with each other to form plaits, springs for moving the bladesin the direction of the work, and means for moving the blades outwardagainst the stress of said springs.

2. In a plaiting-machine, yieldably-mounted spring-pressed blades,movable, respectively, in opposite directions and coacting with eachother to form the folds, springs tending to move the blades in thedirection of the work, and means for moving said blades away from thework against the stress of the springs.

3. In a plaitingmachine, folding-blades, springs tending to move theblades in the direction of the Work to accomplish the folding operation,springs tending to move said blades to effect compression of the foldedmaterial, and means for moving the blades against the stress of thesprings.

4. In a folding-machine, a pair of alterspectively with the oppositesides of the fabr1c, adjustable screws disposed at the ends of 'eachfolder, and stop-plates for engagement with the screws.

5. In a plaiting-machine, a pair of alternately-operable folding-blades,carriers for said blades, springs for supporting said carriers,auxiliary springs also serving as supports, and cams for engaging theauxiliary springs.

6. In a plaiting-machine, a pair of alternately-operable blades, springsfor supporting the same, cam-shafts for engaging the springs andoperating the folders, and a receiver for the folded fabric, saidreceiver including a pair of transverselydisposed bars that are movablewith their respective folders.

7 In a plaiting machine, folding blades,

carriers for supporting the same, blade-carrying springs, a receiver forthe folded fabric, said receiver including a pair of transverse bars,lugs projecting from said bars, and spring connections for engaging thelugs to cause movement of the bars with their respective folding-blades.

8. In a folding-machine, a receiver comprising a pair of spaced members,and means for alternately operating the same during the foldingoperation.

9. In a plaiting-machine, a receiver including a pair of members spacedto form a receiving-chamber, folding-blades movable-with said members,and means for operating the members alternately.

10. In a plaiting-machine, a plurality of spaced bars forming areceiver, folding means, a presser-bar against which the fabric isforced, an arbor or shaft, a flexible chain or cord for attaching theshaft to the bars, a disk carried by the shaft, and adjustable frictiondevices for engaging the disk.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWnI havehereto affixed mysignature in the presence of two witnesses.

NORMAN DE VVITTA.

Witnesses:

JAMES A. DU'LMY, J. E. GRAY.

